HOW TO best use the library and web
Probably some of the nicest, most
comfortable places in any city, any where, could be considered the university
library...something about those cool, quiet rooms with leather chairs, old book smells and
friendly librarians. If you happen to be walking around a library you'll want to know
where to look for the books that you're interested in using: the magazines and journals
are in the Periodical Room, while the reference books are in the Reference Section. The Library of Congress has created a special
numbering system that will help you find the books on the shelves or in the
"stacks" as they say, that you are looking for called: the Library of
Congress Classification System (www.info.library.yorku.ca/yorkline/lc/lc.html).
If you have some questions about library resources then you would be best advised to try
the Reference Librarian...or try a great web
site called: (www.refdesk.com) ("The best source for facts on the net.").
It is a vast collection of online reference materials featuring calculators of all sorts,
calendars, white and yellow pages, dictionaries, thesauri, almanacs, maps, books,
newpapers, and periodicals. This site has so much reference
information it doesn't do it justice to point out only two or three services, (but we
will): "Try Ask Experts:" e.g. (www.4advice.com) or
"Beginner's Guides:" e.g.
"Ask a Librarian", "Webmonkey Guides",
etc. or "Essential Reference Tools:"
The complete Encyclopedia Britannica is online with some other equally
useful sources and they're free: < www.britannica.com >
Perhaps one of the best libraries to get started on is the Smithsonian Institution
Libraries at: (www.sil.si.edu/newstart.htm). This library is, of course a U.S. government
organization, which provides among other very useful items, "Project
Access" which is a Database Guide offering many sites. For example:
| Database |
Description |
How to Access |
Provider |
| EDGAR |
U.S. Security and Internet |
WWW (free) |
Exchange Database |
Having immediate access to
the indices and types of databases available through the Smithsonian is a very valuable
asset for research. A second library service which provides access to libraries all over
the world is provided by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization). (www.unesco.org/webworld/portal_bib)
The UNESCO Libraries Portal is an international information gateway for librarians and
library users. It provides Library Website, Education and Training, and The
European Library (TEL), to name a few of its resources.
The European Library project seeks to create a virtual library providing access to the
major national and deposit collections of participating countries. Launched in February
2001 and scheduled to continue for 30 months, it is intended to provide the framework for
a pan-European service. Obviously, a lot of international references are in the language
of the country, however, in some cases English translations are also available.
American students--and I speak from experience--have a tendency to ignore European and
Asian sites for their research. This is a mistake. You should be practicing now to find
knowledge sites that will be useful for your research when you reach your new position in
the company.
How about a crash course in "using the web?" The biggest step
toward learning about the Internet and Web (they are not the same) is learning the the
vocabulary...the terms as concepts, and then putting the concepts together. A good site
for a Glossary of Internet Terms which defines the Internet and Web from A (ADN) to Z (WWW)...there aren't any interesting
"Zs" yet...is to try: (www.matisse.net/files/glossary.html). There are a number of glossaries but Mr.
Enzer's is a good start.
One other site created by one of your own (a student...still) Per
Christensson at: (www.sharpened.net/glossary/index.php) is also well done and he sounds like your
roommate. Secondly, you have to weave these terms together in order to understand how it
all fits together...an overview. For example, what is the relationship between a URL and
the Web? Websites and Home Pages?
Browsers and Search Engines? Probably the best way to have a good overview is using the Duskin website again: (www.duskin.com/online/study/studymain.mhtml)
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